Livernano Chianti Classico 2005
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Parker
Robert
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This Chianti Classico, a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot, possesses the lively aromatics and rich fruit of its bigger brothers, but is designed for younger drinking. A prime example of the appellation.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2005 Chianti Classico (80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot) offers up attractive sweet roses, spices and dark fruit. The Merlot gives the wine a lovely plumpness in this vintage. This fresh, floral Chianti is best enjoyed over the next few years, while the fruit is vibrant. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013.
Livernano is an excellent choice for wines made in a forward, fruit-driven style. This is a very strong set of new releases, particularly considering that 2005 was a challenging vintage, and nowhere was that more the case than in the higher altitude vineyards of Chianti Classico in towns like Radda.
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Robert
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Parker
Robert
Livernano began its renewal in 1990, when a huge restoration of the entire estate was completed. Entrepreneurs and Broadway producers Bob Cuillo and his Austrian wife, Gudrun, purchased the estate in 2002, and promptly set about modernizing and restoring Livernano to its former glory. Under their guidance, the wines are made from specially cloned vines that are personally and carefully selected to meet their high standards. With a very "hands-on" approach to their wines, Gudrun and Bob personally work the land and always participate in the harvest, handpicking and hand sorting the grapes. Their dreams of creating a world class wine was realized when Livernano received four Tre Bicchieri awards in four years from Gambero Rosso
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
One of the first wine regions anywhere to be officially recognized and delimited, Chianti Classico is today what was originally defined simply as Chianti. Already identified by the early 18th century as a superior zone, the official name of Chianti was proclaimed upon the area surrounding the townships of Castellina, Radda and Gaiole, just north of Siena, by Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany in an official decree in 1716.
However, by the 1930s the Italian government had appended this historic zone with additonal land in order to capitalize on the Chianti name. It wasn’t until 1996 that Chianti Classico became autonomous once again when the government granted a separate DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) to its borders. Ever since, Chianti Classico considers itself no longer a subzone of Chianti.
Many Classicos are today made of 100% Sangiovese but can include up to 20% of other approved varieties grown within the Classico borders. The best Classicos will have a bright acidity, supple tannins and be full-bodied with plenty of ripe fruit (plums, black cherry, blackberry). Also common among the best Classicos are expressive notes of cedar, dried herbs, fennel, balsamic or tobacco.